Islamabad, Pakistan (CNN) -- Pakistan has not yet decided whether to try a Pakistani doctor for high treason for assisting the United States in gathering intelligence ahead of the raid on Osama bin Laden's compound, a senior Pakistani government official said Monday

Dr. Shakeel Afridi helped the CIA use a vaccination campaign in an attempt to collect DNA samples from residents of bin Laden's compound in the city of Abbottabad to verify the terror leader's presence there ahead of the May raid.

"A case of conspiracy against the state of Pakistan and high treason is made" against Afridi, Pakistan's Information Ministry said at the time, summarizing a commission's investigation into the death of the al Qaeda leader

Panetta said Pakistan can discipline Afridi in whatever manner it deems appropriate, but the doctor should be released

Many analysts felt U.S. officials had kept quiet about Afridi so as to not implicate him. On Monday, CNN National Security Analyst Peter Bergen said speaking publicly about the doctor could lead to more problems for him.

"By making it a public matter, he may have increased pressure on the Pakistanis to release this guy," Bergen said in an appearance on CNN. "That said, the United States prosecutes spies from even friendly powers."

Peter Brookes, a Heritage Foundation fellow and former deputy assistant secretary of state under President George W. Bush, said he was also puzzled by Panetta's remarks.

He said it could put pressure on Pakistan's government. "But I think things are so bad with the U.S. and Pakistan right now that it's not going to help at all," he said.




The original story is on CNN website. My question is this: This guy helps us, then he gets arrested, then we ask for his release and then Panetta says basically "do what you want to him but release him". Is this how we "help" someone who helped us? What if they decide to release him...and then execute him? Will we say anything?